ARCATA, Calif. – Up in Northern California for its first match of the season, Academy of Art volleyball gave Humboldt State a scare, rallying with strong serving and defense at the net in the third set despite a 3-1 (25-16, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21) final.

From a 5-5 score, the opening set shifted its momentum toward the Jacks with a 12-3 run that was eventually stopped on a kill by senior outside hitter Bailey Soolsma. The teams would trade points from there and eventually the home team prevailed 25-16.

After freshman outside hitter Ashley Pawlak notched her fourth kill of the second set, Humboldt State went on a 10-2 run to put themselves up by double digits. Though the Knights fought back with three unanswered points, HSU held on for the 25-15 victory heading into halftime.

Out of the locker room, set three was the closest of the night as Academy of Art used four service aces in its first 13 points (two by redshirt junior middle blocker Safua Elisaia) to gain an advantage. Response runs by the Jacks brought them back in and eventually up 20-18, but a 7-2 run by ART U swiftly closed the door. After tying it up 22-22, back-to-back blocks first by senior middle blocker Margaret Winkler and Pawlak then Winkler and Elisaia gave the Knights a 25-22 victory.

"I think the big turnaround for us starting in the third set was our serving," said head coach Ray Batalon. "We started serving the ball well which made it easier for us to setup our block. In the first two sets, Humboldt passed the ball well and made it really difficult for us to read."

In the fourth set, kills by Elisaia and Winkler highlighted an early 5-0 push to put Academy of Art ahead, but HSU responded with a 7-1 rally that was met with a 6-1 rebuttal from the Knights. Tied 19-19, the score and match were closed by the Jacks thanks to a 7-2 final effort that earned them a 25-21 win.

Elisaia led ART U with 10 kills while Pawlak added nine kills and 12 digs in her collegiate debut. The senior duo of Soolsma and Winkler combined for nine kills and had their hands in 12 blocks. Sophomore setter Lilika Teu finished with a team-high 23 assists and redshirt junior libero Lyndsay Mlynar added 13 digs for the Knights who begin the year 0-1.

Humboldt State, who starts 1-0, got a match-high 16 kills from Alex Lolland and a double-double (10 kills, 10 digs) by Natalie Picone.

Academy of Art will remain in Arcata overnight to face Humboldt State in a rematch tomorrow at 3 p.m.

"We're really pleased with the way we played throughout the night," said Batalon. "I thought we got better as the match wore on and looking forward to playing again tomorrow."